News & Updates from the park

New Waste Bag Dispenser Stations for Kilcona

Posted by Kilcona Park Dog Club / in Information, News /

New Waste Bag Dispenser Stations for Kilcona

In response to a growing number of poop piles and ongoing complaints from responsible dog owners, Kilcona Park Dog Club and its valued Platinum Sponsor, Royal LePage Prime, have joined forces to make it easier for park users who forget bags – or those who simply run out – to pick up after their pups.

Six new waste bag dispenser stations were installed in Kilcona’s off- leash area yesterday. Soon they will be stocked with “Mutt Mitt” waste bags, thanks to the generosity of Royal LePage Prime’s dog-loving, community-minded management team, many of whom are Kilcona Dog Park users.

Studies show that parks that provide waste bags have a 90% higher pick-up rate than those that don’t.

The waste bag stations, conveniently located next to litter baskets and underground bins, will make it easier for Kilcona dog owners to do the right thing.

KPDC and Royal LePage Prime are optimistic that the light-hearted “Poop Fairy” message will encourage Kilcona dog owners to do their doggy duties, just as it did there.

Just who is the Poop Fairy?
Well, like her famous friend the Tooth Fairy, the Poop Fairy is the stuff of myth. Flying unseen through parks and neighborhoods, she is said to follow dogs and their owners, cleaning up one mess before fluttering off to attend to the next canine creation. The widespread belief that she exists seems to reassure some that cleaning up after their dog is optional.
Sadly, the fabled Poop Fairy is just that… a fable! There is no magical way to make dog poop disappear. In order to fully dispose of waste, we must actually pick it up and put it in a trash container all by ourselves.

The waste bag dispenser stations, Poop Fairy signs and a public education campaign have been introduced as a pilot project to raise awareness that dog owners who don’t clean up after their pets are contributing to a much larger public health problem. Over the next year, KPDC’s Board will evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot project in reducing the amount of unclaimed dog feces.

The dispenser stations were funded by Royal LePage Prime, Kilcona Park Dog Club, and Councillors Russ Wyatt (Transcona), Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) and Jason Schreyer (East Kildonan) through a Land Dedication Reserve Fund Grant.
KPDC thanks Jefferson County Animal Services Colorado Manager, Carla Zinati for her support for the pilot project and credits the agency for providing the original artwork to the Poop Fairy campaign.

Facts about Dog Waste and Public Health
• Dog feces don’t biodegrade like wild animal feces.
Because we feed our dogs food that’s different from the food wolves, coyotes and other wild animals eat, dog waste does not break down as quickly.
• Dog poop contains harmful bacteria and parasites.
Dog waste can contain harmful organisms like E. coli, giardia, salmonella, roundworms, hookworms, and cryptosporidium. These can be passed on to both your dog AND you and may cause health problems.
• Dog waste pollutes groundwater, ponds and other water bodies.

Due to the large number of dogs in Kilcona Park, dog waste accumulates and washes into the ponds. Storm water runoff is a highly toxic soup. Bacteria in dog waste can harm water quality in creeks and rivers and alter the ecosystems. According to the EPA, dog waste is as toxic to the environment as chemical and oil spills.

If like many responsible dog owners you’re committed to recycling, please continue to use your own grocery bags to help keep our favorite park clean. If you forget or run out, please feel free to pick up a bag stop at one of the new dispensers.

OUR FAVORITE DOG PARK AND WE’RE LOVIN’ IT!

Posted by Kilcona Park Dog Club / in Events, Information, News /

OUR FAVORITE DOG PARK AND WE’RE LOVIN’ IT!

It may be the last weekend of September but Saturday still felt like summer – hot, dry and windy with a healthy dose of sunshine.

Thanks to dog owners, families and friends who pitched in to pick up and spruce up Kilcona. We’re all winners when our favorite dog park is clean!
A few people deserve special recognition for doing more than their share on Saturday. Winners of the “Golden Shovel Awards” and prizes will be announced on Monday.

This fall’s clean-up will be remembered for three things. The first is how clean the park was before we started and how little dog poop we actually had to pick up. Many dog owners carry extra bags for those in need. On their walks, they also pick up an extra bag themselves and participate in KPDC’s “Number 2 Clue”, the whistle program that alerts inattentive park visitors of the need to clean up after their pets. The results of these dog park community-generated initiatives are obvious. Kudos to Kilcona dog owners for being so responsible!

The second thing the fall clean-up will be remembered for is the success of the club’s fundraising efforts. Volunteers raised almost $1000 for park improvements. This was an unexpected surprise since park clean-ups are not intended to be fundraising events; they’re stewardship events – a time for those of us who love the park to take care of it. Thank you Kilcona dog owners for purchasing KPDC memberships and “Make a Splash” raffle tickets and for your generous donations to bring clean drinking water into the park.

The third thing that the clean-up will be remembered for is the challenge of a crazy, mess-up-your-hair, sand stuck in your lip-gloss prairie wind. We were all astonished to see white caps in our cups of Starbucks coffee!

With winds speeds up to 50 kilometers per hour and gusts over 70, it was Portage and Main all over the city. On several occasions volunteers were seen racing after and retrieved $20 twenty dollar bills, membership cards, raffle tickets, garbage bags and recycling bins that went sailing across the park. Strong winds caught gazebo canopies and turned them into sails. Definitely not the easiest day for volunteers to be setting up and taking down shelters!

As the day wore on, securing the gazebos and keeping them from being damaged or blowing away became the priority for Poo Crew leaders. Volunteers pounded iron snow fence posts deep into the ground and strapped the shelters to the posts and to each other. As the winds continued to strengthen, the team moved into position, hanging onto the iron posts, bracing them and stabilizing the gazebos. We worried what disasters might occur when we untethered them for the take-down. In the end- thanks to some serious planning and tight teamwork – the crew was able to take down the shelters with very little damage; one gazebo strut will have to be replaced.

Lesson learned – we need rain dates AND wind dates for outdoor events!

 

Thanks to KPDC’s outstanding Poo Crew team leaders for a brilliant performance!

SET UP/TAKE DOWN TEAM LEADERS
o Sasha Emric
o Jeff Henry

CLEAN UP EVENT SUPPORT
o Sasha Emric
o Charlene Biebrich

CLEAN-UP CONTEST
o Jeff Henry
o Gail Warywoda

HOSPITALITY
o Mackenzie Blandford
o Cathy Cox
o Robyn Gibbons

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
o Kathleen Kirkman
o Donna Henry
o Daria Zenchuk

FUNDRAISING DRIVE
o Angie Carriere
o Diane Havens
o Robyn Maharaj

WINNIPEG DOG FEST RETURNS WITH OLD FAVES AND NEW ATTRACTIONS!!

Posted by Kilcona Park Dog Club / in Events, Information, News /

WINNIPEG DOG FEST RETURNS WITH OLD FAVES AND NEW ATTRACTIONS!!

Kilcona Dog Park
Next Saturday – September 12
11am to 2pm

KPDC Welcomes a Brand New Gold Sponsor!

Posted by Kilcona Park Dog Club / in Features, Information, News /

 

Looking for one reliable company to look after your yard all year long?

KPDC’s newest Gold Sponsor will not only take care of the grass, the winter-loving outdoor folks at Platinum Lawn Care will also take care of your spring and fall clean-ups, clean the eaves troughs and clear the snow! Lawn cares services include power raking, lawn aeration and weekly grass cutting.
Going on holidays and just need someone to cut the grass while you’re gone? Call Platinum!
Renovating and need drywall or paneling taken down, cupboards removed, decks or fences demolished? Platinum will even haul away your demolition and construction debris, old furniture, appliances and other household junk, and yard waste.
Platinum Lawn Care is a family owned and operated business. That means that when you call Platinum Lawn Care, you’ll be dealing directly with the owner. The Waldner family’s goal is to exceed customer expectations by offering superior service at very affordable prices. The bonded professional team of yard care specialists uses commercial grade equipment; the staff is recognized for their dependable, courteous service.
Platinum Lawn Care serves East, North and West Kildonan, East and West St Paul, Elmwood, Transcona, Garden City, The Maples, and Riverbend.
Call 204-794-1984 for a free estimate.
Check out their website – www.platinumlawncare.ca

KPDC Welcomes It’s Newest Corporate Sponsor!

Posted by president@kilconaparkdogclub.ca / in Features, Information, News /

KPDC is proud to welcome its newest corporate sponsor, Petrasko’s Market & Garden Centre.

Over the past 40 years, this family-owned business has earned a well-deserved reputation as North Kildonan’s “go to” market for the finest produce available. From July through October Petrasko’s sells local farm-fresh produce.

A leisurely visit to the market is more like a country vacation than a trip to the grocery store. It’s a delightful experience you won’t want to miss. Surrounded by bins of colourful fruits and vegetables, you’ll find yourself exchanging recipes and tips with fellow shoppers and chatting with owners Kathy Plickett and Neil Wiebe and their friendly, knowledgeable staff about their producers, new varieties, and how to get the most out of the produce.

Manitoba farmers grow some of the tastiest vegetables in the world and Petrasko’s growers are masters of their craft. You’ll be feeding your family fresh, locally grown products, supporting Manitoba farmers and strengthening our economy.

In the spring Petrasko’s is all about gardening. That means seeds, plants, and flowers. Visit the greenhouse, experience the vibrant colours and soothing aromas, and choose from their abundant selection of gardening plants and gardening supplies. Petrasko’s is a one-stop shop for all your gardening needs.

Petrasko’s offers KPDC members 10% off all seeds and plants (until June 30) – and 10% off all produce orders over $35.00 from July 1 to the end of the season.